Yacht Charter Misadventures: The Case of the Missing Mother-in-Law
Dive into a humorous yacht charter story where miscommunication leads to a frantic search for a missing mother-in-law and unexpected storm forecasts. Join Julian Putley as he recounts this lighthearted adventure on the high seas.
Just the other day, Charlie was busy going over the safety equipment on a yacht tied to the dock when a huge commotion erupted nearby. A little old lady was standing on the dock crying uncontrollably and was in a most distraught state of mind. A pretty young staff member of the charter yacht company was trying to console her but with little effect. It turned out that the son-in-law had left his mother-in-law on the dock and sailed off without her.
The Missing Mother-in-Law Incident
Half an hour later, all was well. After frantic VHF communications, the boat returned to the dock and retrieved the poor woman. It was all a big mistake—son-in-law thought mother-in-law was resting below in her cabin whereas, in fact, she had stepped ashore to use the toilet facilities.
A Calm After the Storm
It seemed that everything had returned to normal when they departed a second time, but raised voices could be heard as they rounded the bend out of the marina. Now, there are ways to deal with uncomfortable situations. Charlie would have just explained that the waters in the channel can get lumpy and at least three Dramamine tablets would ensure no violent eruptions of breakfast. Then all would be serenity itself as mother-in-law slid into a coma.
Escalation and Miscommunication
In this particular case, the trip, after such an inauspicious start, rapidly went downhill. Apparently, differences of opinion led to violent arguments that might have turned even uglier if the son-in-law hadn’t finally conceived a plan. At Trellis Bay, mother-in-law was ferried ashore in the dinghy to buy a couple of missing grocery items and was also informed not to miss the wonderful souvenirs at the artsy shops. The lady returned to rejoin the tender for transportation back to her yacht but instead found her bag—with a note attached: “Big storm forecast. Get on the first plane out! Love you to bits! Son-in-law.” She looked out into the bay and there was the boat steaming out of the anchorage at a fair rate of knots.
The Twist: Storm Forecast and Return
It was exactly as Charlie would have done, and he wondered at the weird conundrums of telepathy.
Mother-in-law informed the charter base and explained the situation. The yacht was steaming back to the base for safety due to the impending storm, and she was already at the airport. The workers at the base were perplexed; nothing but blue skies were on the horizon. At the end of the week, the boat returned with a suntanned, happy crew. “I see you weathered the storm,” said Charlie as he helped them tie up.
Julian Putley has written for ALL AT SEA since 2005.
Worth your time?
Thanks — noted.
